Ethel Hardesty

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Ethel Margaret Hardesty of Advance passed away Friday, June 7, 2019, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri. She was 94 years old.

Known by her loved ones as "Miss Ethel," she was born in Hiram, Missouri, on April 6, 1925, to George and Ida Myrtle Wallace Wilfong. Ethel married Jasper Hardesty on July 10, 1946.

She was a homemaker and a loving mother who enjoyed working in her garden in the summer and hand-sewing beautiful quilts all year long.

Surviving immediate family include a brother, Albert "Dude" Wilfong of Campbell, Missouri; two sons, Roy Lee Hardesty of Dexter and Craig A. Hardesty of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Shirley Margaret Payne of Hillsboro, Missouri, and Wilma Dean (Tim) Watkins of Lexington, Indiana; three grandchildren, Scott (Gail) Payne, Connie (Dale) Gordon and Amie (Doug) Duerstock; and seven great-grandchildren, Levi, Bailey, James, Lane, Mollie, Caitlyn and Colton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jasper Hardesty; son, Stephen Hardesty; two brothers, Elza and Lloyd Wilfong; and sister, Myrtle Ruth (Ruthie) Wilfong.

Services will be held at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance on Friday. Visitation will start at 10 a.m., and the funeral will follow at 1 p.m. The service will be led by Jerry Waggoner, Elder and Lifegroup leader from Hillsboro Christian Church, followed by prayers at Cowan Cemetery.

Heaven has received a precious gift.